This afternoon Florida’s Governor Charlie Crist declared a State of Emergency for 6 Florida counties as the huge BP oil spill approached the state’s fragile coastline. Bay, Escambia, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties in Florida’s panhandle are being threathened by the oil spill.

In his declaration order, Crist stated:

"The oil slick is generally moving in a northerly direction and threatens Florida’s coast."

The order jumpstarts Florida’s efforts to control the spill, protect our coastline and prepare for any resulting environmental cleanup when it comes ashore. David Halstead, Director of Emergency Management will be heading up the effort while the Department of Environmental Protection will be the lead department.

Property owners from all over the country who have real estate investments in the beautiful Florida panhandle are getting nervous as their properties become threatened. Should this become a major disaster, those property owners may be protected from any losses under the 1990 Oil Pollution Act, which was enacted after the Exxon-Valdez gas spill. The first class action has already been filed against BP in Louisiana. Do not wait; call our attorneys now and protect your interests.

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